The truck is an 06 6.0 with 209,000 miles on it used for daily driving and hauling a 24' gooseneck that weighs less than 10,000lbs loaded down, and local hauling only.

Ive noticed here lately my fans have been kicking 95% of the time. Granted its Texas, it hasn't been 100+ degree days. Last week I was hauling my empty trailer out about an hour and 20 minutes away, through some traffic but not really anything too bad. Well as soon as I reached my destination the truck temp spiked. I got coolant right away, and my reservoir was practically empty. Great. So I check for leaks and cant find a single thing, fill the truck up with coolant and water, and head on my way all is good. Then I the truck starts poring black smoke, so great, EGR problems. Doing everything typical of a clogged EGR, loosing power, poring smoke, hesitant at times, etc.

I limp the thing home, and take it out the next morning truck runs fine. Still smoking some but not like the day before. Well the truck sat for a few hours, hopped in to leave and the damn thing wont move, poring white smoke. I pull over, its a bit low on coolant but not major so I top it off again, and the truck clears up and gets home just fine. Ive been driving the truck waiting for my new EGR to get here (I want to do the delete ultimately) with no issues other than some black smoke at take of, but not every time. Well today i'm on my way in to town, the fans are kicking, and the truck spikes again. About 2/3 low on coolant. No smoke this time after I filled it up, but now my heater/AC controls and display are dead.

Ive read it could be as simple as the thermostat, or as dreaded as head gasket problems. Thoughts? Truck is bone stock, no idea how old the EGR is, over a year for sure, but it was cleaned a few months ago.

 

A clogged egr will boil the coolant and roach the headgaskets a warp the heads.